Carlisle United 3-2 Academy

Three second half goals secured three points for Carlisle as Preston surrendered a two nil lead.

Goals from Luke Pritchard and Lamin Jagne gave Preston a deserved and comfortable lead at half-time but they were unable to see the game through.

Manager Nick Harrison said: “I was really pleased with the way we started the game, we were probably cruising at half-time, we attacked well, we defended well, we passed the ball well, competed well and we
looked the better team by a million miles so that was really pleasing.

“On the other hand, it’s very disappointing that our players couldn’t keep hold of that lead and actually show that they are good players and see the game out.”

Carlisle used all three substitutions at half-time which proved to be a turning point in the game as the hosts looked a reinvigorated side in the second half.

Harrison said: “They changed. They had more intensity in their play but we expect our players to be able to handle that, especially when we are winning the game two nil.

“We know we’ve got good players but good players have to deal with the oppositions threats and we didn’t do that second half.”

Preston looked to establish their passing game early on in the first half as they looked comfortable in dealing with United trying to play on the break.

The Lilywhites had to wait just ten minutes for the opening goal as Pritchard carried on his fine goalscoring form with a thunderous strike from 25 yards.

After forcing a series of corners early on, Preston were becoming more and more assertive higher up the pitch, and as Carlisle gave away the ball, Pritchard composed himself and brilliantly fired past United goalkeeper Danny Eccles.

The build up to Preston’s second goal was, again, of Carlisle’s own undoing.

A misplaced pass found Jagne who confidently rolled the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area as Eccles again had no chance.

Preston at this point were comfortable in the game and deserved their lead at half-time as they looked clinical going forward and resilient defensively.

But Carlisle’s decision to use their three substitutions at the break proved to be the correct decision as they took the game to Preston.

After forcing their first corner of the game early in the second half, Carlisle looked a different side as they seemed intent on crossing the ball into the Preston penalty area.

Their attitude was soon to be rewarded as Kieran Hall started off the comeback in what was to be an exciting second half.

Carlisle’s new approach gave Hall a free header at the back post as Preston were left appealing for offside.

The momentum had certainly shifted and less than two minutes later Jordan Marshall hit the crossbar with a header for Carlisle.

The hosts were not to be denied an equaliser for too much longer as substitute Connor Hammell levelled things up as he finished off a free flowing break on the back of a North End attack.

The equaliser looked to have given PNE the wake-up call they needed to finish off the game as they started to create chances through Pritchard and Eddie Dsane.

But it wasn’t to be Preston’s day as Harvey Moyes curled in a beautiful finish from outside the area to claim all three points with ten minutes to go.

The result was a frustrating defeat as Preston failed to finish off Carlisle in the second half, a theme that seems to have run throughout their season.

Harrison said: “It’s a little bit of a similar story throughout the season were we’ve taken our foot off the gas a little bit and thought it’s too easy and let the opposition back into the game.”

There were plenty of positives from the first half for Preston that they will need to carry out for 90 minutes in their next fixture against Port Vale and for the rest of season.

Jagne said: “We’re really disappointed about the result, we should have done better, but that’s football, so we need to respond in our next game on Wednesday.